The Fourth Secret: A Fantasy LitRPG Adventure (Divine Apostasy Book 4) A. Kay (best management books of all time .TXT) 📖

Xavier, Ruwen’s current group was full. But he needed to speak with the other Warlord, Elder Vachyl, and Ruwen knew soon, he would probably need even more groups.

Adding points to the Draft ability allowed more people into each group, but it didn’t work on his primary group of five, so he couldn’t use it. His only option was to add a point to Ringleader and create another group. He added the point and confirmed his choice. A notification appeared.

Ping!

You have advanced the Ability Ringleader (Commander Level 2)

Ruwen pictured the other Warlord in his mind and sent out an invitation. A moment later his current group condensed into a larger circle containing all five portraits of his team. A new group appeared, with the portrait of Elder Vachyl.

Yes? Vachyl said in Chat.

When do you think our first scouting teams will leave?

Enough Priests have revived that we’ve started on the combat revivals in bulk. I believe by morning our first teams will be ready, assuming we have permission to gear them from the vault.

Lir, allow Vachyl, or anyone he designates, to distribute combat gear and potions from the vault. After a moment, Ruwen added. Anything of quality Rare or greater and any quantities greater than five hundred need my permission first.

Understood, Architect Starfield. As a reminder, my carbon stores are critical.

I’ll take care of that shortly.

Ruwen didn’t know Vachyl that well, and while Ruwen wanted to gear up his people, he didn’t want to give the man a way to stage a coup.

You can gear up our people from the vault, Ruwen told Vachyl. My team and I will join the first wave. Please incorporate us into your plan.

As you command.

Ruwen expected Vachyl to argue, not agree. He didn’t know if that stemmed from Vachyl obeying the chain of command or wanting to get rid of Ruwen. Probably both.

Walking back toward the door, he found everyone but Hamma there. Xavier now inhabited a long midnight-blue robe that hid him completely. With the hood pulled up, only a faint white-blue light emerged. Ruwen had to admit Xavier looked kind of cool.

“We’re heading out with the first wave in about six hours,” Ruwen said. “Go get some rest.”

“Come on, Xavier,” Sift said. “There’s an empty room by mine you can have.”

Lylan paused and glanced at Hamma, who was placing potions in her Dimensional Bag across the room.

“I’ll wait for her,” Ruwen said. “I need her help with some oil anyway.”

Lylan raised her eyebrows. “Moving fast now, huh Starfield.”

Ruwen felt his cheeks heat, and Sift laughed, but Ruwen didn’t bother to explain. The three left and Ruwen strode over to Hamma. She closed the locker and faced him.

“I got some Health and Mana potions for everyone,” Hamma said. “A few Attribute ones as well.”

“Thanks,” Ruwen said. “Lir is short on carbon and I need to give him some of this oil I’m carrying around.”

“I’ll show you.”

Ruwen nodded his thanks. “Everyone else left. I told them to go get some rest, since we’re headed out with the first groups in the morning.”

“It will be nice to get out of here for a bit. You headed to Blapy until morning?”

“I was wondering if you’d like to hang out?” Ruwen asked, trying to sound natural. “Maybe listen to some music.”

Hamma stared at Ruwen and his heart thumped loudly in his ears. It had seemed like the right thing to do, but suddenly now he wasn’t so sure. He should have thought about it instead of going with his stupid gut.

Hamma reached up and touched his forehead. “Just checking to make sure you’re not feverish.” Then she grinned and kissed him.

Rami jumped into the air and flew toward the exit. I’ll see you in the morning. I’ve been wanting to stretch my new wings, and it’s a beautiful night.

Be careful.

Ruwen took Hamma’s hand and pulled her toward the vault door. He wasn’t feverish, just out of balance. And for the first time in far too long, he pushed all his fears and obligations away.

Chapter 53

Ruwen let go of Hamma’s hand as they entered the dining room. The six Elders were already shouting at each other and he glanced at his clock: 5:54 AM. Evidently, they enjoyed arguing so much they’d all arrived early.

“We have prioritized warriors all morning,” the Elder Priest Gabryel said. “If we don’t start reviving more Workers and Merchants, the enemy will walk right into the city.”

Elder Vachyl leaned forward. “All morning? I see hundreds of Priests running around.”

“You know that was necessary,” Gabryel said. “Reviving so many people requires support.”

“Good morning, everyone,” Ruwen said as he and Hamma sat.

The Elders all turned to Ruwen and Gabryel hissed. “That armor is an abomination. You tempt Uru’s wrath by wearing it.”

Ruwen nodded at the Priest, knowing a philosophical argument would get nowhere. He wore everything but the Overseer helmet, wanting them to see his face as they discussed the next few days. The Observer Elder Drivyd still had red balloons over his head, thankfully, even though Rami hadn’t returned yet.

“I’ve provided the temple with enough terium to revive at our current pace for three days,” Ruwen said. “I’ve also filled the temple’s carbon storage to capacity, which is fifty thousand gallons and will last us a week. A team is currently retrieving additional terium. My team will leave this morning to aid in protecting the city, and I want to plan the next three days before we depart.”

“Leaving the city seems like an unnecessary risk,” the Mage Elder Odalys said.

“We have too many leaders and not enough warriors,” Ruwen said. “And I don’t need to be here physically to manage.”

In Chat, Ruwen focused on Hamma. I’m going to take an ability that allows you to form a group. I want you to make one with the City Council so you can handle them while we’re gone and inform me of any issues. I’ll make a similar one for myself and the War Council.

That sounds good, Hamma replied.

Ruwen looked around the room. “In a moment we’ll